Don Thompson
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For general camera reviews, I use http://www.dpreview.com. For lenses, I use dpreview and http://www.the-digital-picture.com.
I avoid consumer reviews. I could be wrong, but I assume most know less than me.
Cool photos. Hard to pick a favorite.
I fished the Pere Marquette once. I never caught a thing, but it is beautiful river.
I’m probably not the most qualified to give advice, especially on this particular subject, but since no one else is and I do know what I like and what I don’t, here goes.
no. 1, Overall I like although I find the blown out highlights too much. I know it is difficult to control both the highlights and shadows especially in a backlit situation but this is too much for my taste. I do like the mist on the water and the way the ripple in the water leads to the subject.
no. 2, I like but I think I would like it better if you had the nice even background at the top rather than the dark and light areas.
That’s a start. Maybe others will join in with additional comments.
Although I do not personally have the lens, I have a friend who uses the 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS and he really likes it. You don’t mention $ but the 28-135 sells for $455 at B&H. You might look at it if it is wide enough for your use.
Focal length wise, I think all work. My problem that the lighting seems to be coming from above and to the camera right, which leaves the fly looking too dark.
I have never attempted this type of photography so I don’t know how the lighting is typcally done, but I would look at moving it if this were my first attempts.
My $0.02
The only thing I would add to Brian’s response would be that if I could only get Photoshop or Lightroom, I would chose Photoshop.
I use both because my wife is an employee at a university and she can get them both for very little money. I like Lightroom for it’s photo management and it does about 75%+ of what I need to do in editing. But it is that 25% that would make me chose Photoshop if I had to chose.
I could get by without the photo management that Lightroom offers, but I couldn’t do without the editing capabilities that Photoshop offers.
I have a cokin and while I don’t use it often, I have never noticed a problem with it. So as Jeff said, give yours a try, maybe you got lucky too.
On the Rebel and the XXD bodies, you would completely lose AF using the 70-300 and the 1.4 TC, at least on the long end. Which if the 70-300 is anything like my 100-400, that means as soon as you zoom.
I have often said that the only reason I attempt to be a photographer is that I cannot draw/paint. I wish I could.
Looks good.
They’re good for action because of focusing speed, but not sharp enough for anything serious.
I would be interested in knowing your basis for this. I have never read anything other than the current model is one of Canon’s best, particularly for a zoom.
I have used MPix for years, the last one was exactly to my liking. They seem to do fine with my nature photos but I had color issues that we were not able to resolve.
It was not to the point that I can’t recommend them completely but we did have problems.
Looks like the perfect camera. It also looks like the starting retail price will be higher than its predecessor. At 5k it’s one hell of an acquisition, not one I think I can justify in the foreseeable future.
Me either Kurt, but the good news for us is that most improvements will eventually find themselves in the lower prices cameras. We just have to wait a little longer.
The only problem that I have is when a photographer misrepresents themselves as a seasoned pro and takes a rate higher than their ability; this just makes the rest of us look bad. Quote it according to skill level and use it as a stepping-stone and learning tool: In the end: The client makes the decisions, based on the honest information that they were afforded up front. If one is truly a seasoned pro and doesn’t like the rate, find a new client!
As skill level and applied knowledge grows, adjust the rates up accordingly. If not, be prepared for higher expectations at a stalled rate and no friends left in the pier group 🙂
I agree 100%. No one should ever misrepresent their experience level.
In my case I tried to get the bride and groom to use someone more qualified, but due to finances, it was either myself or someone with a point and shoot. In all three cases they were very please with the end product but they knew up front what they could expect.
I have read similar types of complaining on other forums. They complain about the fact that I have done a few weddings at way less than they charge. The say that I am driving them out of business.
My feelings are this;
1. Some people simply cannot afford what they charge.
2. I believe Ben and Zach said this in a different manner, if you lose clients to me, with the meager skills and equipment that I have, then you were not offering much to begin with.To someone who has the means to pay more, they would never in my opinion hire me. They would take the money and pay a professional.
I also believe that being a professional goes way beyond receiving money to do something, whatever it is. I know many who have technical expertise in their profession, yet in my opinion fall way short of being “professional”.
If you have the technical skills and are a true professional, the money will follow.
